The Constitution of Albania will wait to be legitimized by the consensus of all Albanians, their vote, through a referendum. The existence of pluralism does not make the consensus of political parties on fundamental issues of the country a prerequisite. The Constitution is one such case. The proposed referendum does not dispense with the consensus of political parties. Thousands of members of the Socialist Party are being asked to give their consensus on the Constitution through their vote in a referendum, including its leadership. Gramoz Ruçi, or other former ministers, now members of parliament. Former minister Ruçi, or the other 37 PS deputies, may vote “NO” on the Constitution. These 38 Albanians—deputies, former ministers, former prosecutors under a dictatorial constitution—may withhold their consensus on the Constitution of democracy today. That is their right. But the Constitution cannot be for these 38 people (Albanians) alone. Through the referendum, the Constitution seeks the consensus of thousands of others. On the other hand, only a few months ago these 38 (Albanians) said “NO” to the Law on the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Human Being, one of Albania’s most important legal acts. Nevertheless, these 38 Albanians, starting with Ruçi, are once again being asked to give their consensus on this law and on the Constitution, while at the same time not denying that possibility to thousands of others. But there are other parties, too. There are other Albanians whose consensus is being sought, because, as we said, a “YES” is being asked of all Albanians. For example, the equatorial Alliance Party, which is made up of ... tomorrow, if elections were held, it would win power (imagine how many hundreds of thousands of members, how many hundreds of thousands of Albanians this party has). So, the Referendum is asking hundreds of thousands of Albanians, members of the Alliance, to say “YES” or “NO” to the Constitution. In other words, the consensus of thousands is being sought, and not only that of the Albanians in CNEK. A, IMAM and two or three other Albanians, who may or may not add up to five or six in total. These five or six (Albanians) may also withhold their consensus on the Constitution. One reservation is that these five or six (Albanians) said “NO” to the fundamental law of the present Constitution, not a comma of which has been removed. (The Fundamental Being.) Of course, there are also many other parties whose consensus is sought on the matter of the Constitution. For example, Baleta’s party (one of the parties of ... (continued on page 3) ...now by Parliament. Referendums are appropriate democratic means of gathering the people’s opinion. PR members will be given the opportunity, through referendums, to express their views and their will on many cardinal issues. I think there is room for corrections and additions to this Draft Law. The Draft Law contains 42 articles, some of which could be formulated in subordinate legislation. Naturally, this draft law should not be separated from the actual adoption of the new Constitution, on the eve of whose adoption Albanian society now stands. The Republican Party. At all the conferences, representatives of democratic-wing political parties, associations and trade unions have offered their greetings, expressing respect and esteem. A new, quite cohesive, clean and determined force is gathering around the Republican Party. Conference participants also come from the most distant municipalities, sometimes walking for several hours. Not out of any personal interest, since the Republican Party is not in power and cannot grant them privileges, but driven by their will to contribute to a party that increasingly wins them over ... In his greetings at the conferences of the Puka, Lushnja and Fier branches, the party chairman, Mr. Sabri Godo, addressed several important issues highlighted at the branch conferences. ... Only did the party chairman, Mr. Sabri Godo, address several important issues highlighted at the branch conferences. ... ...the Constitution itself alone. A referendum on its “fate,” held by the people with their own hands and by their own will. If this people does not even know how to make use of the Referendum, they will have only themselves to blame. But let us leave it in their hands. Let us test their wisdom once more, and then raise our voices in their name. It is not surprising that the communist opposition also came out against the Referendum. The opposite would be surprising: if the communists came out in favor of a Referendum! Were they not the ones who, the day after March 22, asked: There, two days have passed since the elections, but what has democracy done? (????) Are they not the ones who have so far called for early elections? Here they have the chance to “win”! The Referendum! Let their “people” come out and vote against the Draft Constitution of “democracy”! Why are they afraid of their people?! Why, on the contrary, do they accuse the Referendum of being a populist tendency?! Do they love the people or not? Does the people love them or not?! To reject the referendum! It can no longer be claimed that free elections, voting and a referendum are impossible. Now people are free, at least on this side of the threshold, to enter the polling station and vote “for” or “against.” If it is suspected that this people cannot even uphold its own dignity in this opportunity, if the “people” must forever be manipulated, if today’s government can manipulate an entire people (which the former communists claim is “left-wing”), then all of it is pointless. A Constitution is pointless too, however good, however perfect. To reject the referendum?! If adoption of the draft Constitution in Parliament is not intended to approve it—which cannot be achieved—but to give the people an opportunity to become better acquainted with the draft through public debate. At the same time, this debate may help the Commission make some corrections ... (continued on page 3) For its part, the Republican Party has set up a committee of lawyers who will formulate their observations or approval and provide an opinion to the Second Congress, which will finally decide the Republican Party’s position on the referendum on the Constitution. b) Discussion of the draft Constitution in Parliament, not in order the deputies’ Commission make some corrections to the draft Constitution. The referendum on the Constitution remained the only way out of the situation that had arisen. Recognizing the particular importance of this process and seeking to ease the tensions that had arisen, the Republican Party proposes: a) the deputies’ Commission make some corrections to the draft ... In support of this idea, before this process there will naturally be more free debate on television and in the daily press, and their positions will be heard. c) Parliament should establish the procedure for voting on the Constitution by an absolute majority, guaranteeing complete correctness. Since the people will be asked, their answer must be clear and unequivocal. The Referendum is also held to complete the legal framework of democracy, which will give the people the opportunity to decide by direct vote on the principal issues of politics, the economy and social life as a whole. For the approval of this law. had arisen, the Republican Party proposes: ...the first part of the territory during the election campaign. The organization and level of discussion at the conferences also demonstrate growing political maturity and objective judgment amid the country’s complicated situation. The Party’s guidelines opened up good prospects and optimism for its many members and supporters: with even more determined work, the Republican Party will very soon become an important factor in the life of the entire country. This is the general and clear effort emerging from these conferences and from this new development of the Republican Party. ...on this occasion it was announced first, on the day as a whole on the occasion... ...of the Albanians and the Albanians. “The movement for a referendum completes the legal framework of democracy, giving as a whole.” Greeks call for the incitement of Albanians in “Northern Epirus,” the southern regions of Albania where a Greek minority lives, whose numbers have become the subject of controversy. For Greek nationalists, this region was unjustly given to Albania when it was created in 1912–1913. Published in one of the largest socialist dailies, “Eleftherotipia,” which seems to give it greater authenticity, the appeal is accompanied by a photograph of Albanian weapons that MAVI says it captured during ... ...the mysterious ... taking place amid a climate of increased nationalist activity in “Northern Epirus,” encouraged by Orthodox radicals and viewed with apprehension by the authorities. The police authorities are studying the text, but it is quite clear that this is a provocation intended to damage Greek interests, government spokesman Evangelos Venizellos commented; in his view, extremist activity is limited in Greece. Headed by the Greek Orthodox primate, Serafim, and a powerful official of the Athens court, lawyer Aleksandros Lykur... (continued on page 3)

The Law on Referendums will give the people the opportunity to decide by direct vote on the principal issues of politics, the economy and social life as a whole. Let us expedite the adoption of this law. The Law on Referendums social life as a whole. Let us expedite the adoption of this law. 19–20 October, Second Congress of the PRSH The chairman of the Republican Party, Mr. SABRI GODO, takes part in the conferences of the Puka, Lushnjë and Fier branches Democracy The Law on Referendums of this law. Conferences of the Republican Party branches for the election of new branch councils and governing committees, as well as for the election of delegates to the Second Congress, are continuing successfully. By October 8, conferences had concluded in 26 branches. Citizens are showing particular interest in this activity of the Republican Party. At all the conferences, representatives of political parties of the democratic wing have brought their greetings, expressing respect and esteem, together with their programs and day-to-day policies. Never has such an influx into the Republican Party been seen, not even during the days of the struggle against communist rule, as occurred in September and in the first days of October supporters; these will be fully developed in the report to be presented to the Congress. Among them, we single out the issue of the day: a referendum on the Constitution. Explaining the Republican position on this matter, Mr. Godo emphasized at a general meeting: “The Law on Referendums completes the legal framework of democracy, giving law. ...”

The bloody massacre of Peshkëpi was organized by the Organization Front for the Liberation of Vorio Epirus (MABH), which operates in Greece under the legitimacy granted by the Greek Government. According to “Republika”’s special correspondent in Athens, two days ago the organization in question distributed a proclamation in the Greek capital and in other cities, describing the crime committed in Peshkëpi. The documents distributed describe in detail the attack on the Albanian recruits’ post in Peshkëpi. According to our correspondent, all Greek radio and television stations broadcast the proclamation to the Greek public, precisely at a time when five members of the minority in Albania obtained reduced sentences from the court of appeal for the crime of collaborating with the Greek secret police and for illegal possession of weapons. The Organization Front for the Liberation of Vorio Epirus declares that Peshkëpi will not be the only one. Meanwhile, the Greek state has taken no action in response to the new calls by this terrorist organization. k.s.

The call for armed struggle against Albania, issued on Friday by a mysterious group, comes amid an increase in treated apprehensively by the authorities. Greeks are calling for Albanians in “Northern Epirus”—the southern regions of Albania—to be incited, eventual, which would allow consensus with others before power is transferred to the referendum. b) Political parties, associations and trade unions should be given the opportunity to hold free debates on television and to express their views and positions. people are to be asked, their aims must also be supported during the attack of April 2. For the Greek government, and the Albanians who urged it in its favor, this is “a provocation” from which Albania benefits, one day after the decision of the Albanian court of appeal, which sentenced all five members of the Greek minority to terms ranging from 5–7 years in prison for “espionage on behalf of Greece.” The police authorities are ...

Honorable chair of the session, Honorable deputies, The draft law “On Referendums,” submitted to Parliament on the initiative of President Mr. Berisha, is necessary and completes the Albanian legislative system. Referendums, which are recognized in the practice of many countries, naturally require a law, and we now have one before us which, after discussion and revision, should be adopted. In principle, I agree with the draft law “On Referendums” and approve it. This is a normal draft law, like all the other draft laws discussed and adopted by Parliament so far. Through referendums, PR members will be given the opportunity adoption Albanian society now stands. (continued on page 3)

The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, sent a letter to the Congressional Committee on Europe and the Middle East, on the occasion of its statement expressing concern about the situation in Kosovo. The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, sent a letter to the Congressional Committee on Europe and the Middle East, on the occasion of its statement expressing concern about the situation in Kosovo, organized in Washington, with the aim, among other things, of saying: “Bearing in mind that the question of Kosovo represents one of the most serious problems in the Balkans, without whose resolution there can be no peace and stability in the region, we hope that the American Congress on Europe and the Middle East will quickly establish the position of the European Community. We consider this issue important and believe it should be addressed from the standpoint of recognizing the will of the people of Kosovo, while respecting the right to self-determination without the dissolution of the former multinational federal Yugoslavia. This will was expressed in the Declaration of Independence and in the Constitution, and was confirmed by the will of the people in the October 1991 referendum, in which the overwhelming majority of the people declared in favor of Kosovo’s independence and sovereignty...”

...And what next? What will happen next?! Caught in this dizzying, utterly absurd, supposedly pluralist rut, we would not be surprised if the Referendum really were rejected as well. Indeed, there seems to be great fear precisely because an attempt was made to introduce this highly democratic instrument. For it is clear that, once this draft law is adopted, the referendum will enter into ordinary practice. There will be periodic referendums, which naturally will not suit many individuals, or even entire political forces. But democracy will naturally have its pains. Everyone will gain from it by “losing” other things. One thing is already clear: Communism has proved to be a failure. For nearly half a century it was proved that communism and the community could not make Albania. Indeed, they destroyed it, leaving it the poorest country in Euro-Bota, the most isolated and most tortured in Europe. The people have understood that much. They believed they would experiment with new crowned leaders. If things are otherwise, if they choose to try through ..., that would be their “fate,” brought about by their own hands and their own desire. since the elections, but what has democracy done? (????) however good, however perfect.

Qyteti Studenti October 10 will mark the official opening of the 1994–’95 school year for higher-education institutions. , the largest student center in Albania, is expected to welcome around 6,000 young men and women students. Regarding the measures taken to repair the buildings, Gjin Progri, director of the Student Services Trading Enterprise, says: “220,000 square meters have been painted across all the buildings. The bathrooms in four buildings have been completely renovated, and disinfection of all rooms, storerooms and toilets has been completed. We have taken all the necessary measures to equip the students with the materials listed in the inventory. So, we are ready to welcome the students. Speaking about the current difficulties they have faced, Mr. Progri says: “We have had a few minor problems, which we raised with the Tirana Municipality and the relevant ministries, but they have been resolved.” “I want to raise a few ... (continues on page 3)

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“I too am a jurist,” said the madwoman at the intersection on Friday at 12:00, in front of the Court of First Instance in Tirana. “Why won’t you accept me too as a jurist? Aren’t Kleanthi Koci, Shefqet Muçi, Femi Avdiu, Dilaver Bregasi and Luan Omari jurists as well? They have been jurists all their lives, nothing but jurists. It isn’t true that they have been presidents and vice-presidents of the Supreme Court, nor have they been deputies, administrators or prosecutors. That same evening, the madwoman walked along the Kombinat–Kinostudio road, shouting: “What do we need a referendum for in Albania? We don’t need the constitution either. Besides, I think that until the opposition wins the elections, we should have no president at all. What does Albania need a president for? Without a president, discussions about his powers would stop too.” “You know what? I’m going to enter Parliament,” said the madwoman N. “Someone has to take their place, but I’ll sit in the seats reserved for independent MPs. I’ll sit in these seats because the socialists will come back again and get up from their seats. And if they get up, you’ll never find another seat! The socialists leave Parliament the way Mark Twain quit smoking: thousands of times. I’ll join the cassation-ists. I’ll sign the complaint only if they elect me deputy chairwoman and senator, because the chairperson is already known. On Saturday morning, the madwoman climbed onto a pile of rubbish by the Lana Bridge and said: “Who’s going to kill the rabid dogs? There are 2,500 dogs. A rabid dog and an important mayor have bitten each other. Five minutes after the bite, the mayor is rabid, while the dog is under investigation for corruption. The lek must be made equal to the drachma,” the madwoman continued in front of the state bank. “A large government and many government officials have been assigned to carry out this directive...” THE CHRONICLER